Break up into small groups. Then discuss the
following. Delegate one or more members of your group to
prepare an oral and written summary of your group's discussion. If you
were not present in class for this exercise, you may complete it (in less than
2 pages) as a typed assignment

1. Name two religions people in your group
know about and ask what they would mean to a people (like the aliens) who did
not die. Which, if any, of these religions would continue to exist as we know
them, if we did not die?

2. The alien claims that death is behind art
and literature. Are you familiar with anyone else who says this? What do you think of this claim?

3. The alien explains that we "invent
lives of never-known people to delight others who know they are being lied
to." What could this have to do with death?

4. Some philosophers (e.g., Plato in the Phaedo)
suggest that philosophy is a response to death, a learning how to die. What do
you think of this?

5. Some philosophers (e.g., Rand in Atlas
Shrugged) would argue that philosophy is a
response to life, a learning how to live. What do you think of this?